Event Details

DoCoMoMo_Oregon and the Association for Preservation Technology, Northwest, are pleased to co-host a workshop on Mid-Century Modern materials. The workshop will focus on materials used in the northwest through their history and case studies. The sessions will conclude with a lively discussion as to whether preserving Mid-Century Materials is less important than preserving the plan and layout of Mid-Century structures. A sack lunch will be provided to all attendees.

LOCATION / AGENDA

1820 NE 21st Avenue

Portland, OR 97212

9:00AM - 10:00AM Registration / Networking

10:00AM - 12:00PM Morning Session

1:00PM - 3:00PM Afternoon Session / Panel Discussion

MORNING SESSION

- Tour of Peitro Belluschi designed Central Lutheran Church by Hazel Larpenteur.

- History of Mid-Century Modern Materials. Presented by Diana Painter, Oregon SHPO.

- Plywood in Mid-Century Modern Architecture. Presented by Suzana Radivojevic, University of Oregon.

- Glue-Laminated Timber in the Western U.S.: It's Development, Failure Patterns, and Preservation Methods. Presented by Rachelle Byarly, University of Oregon.

- Veteran Memorial Coliseum: The Challenges of Mid-Century Modern Spectator and Events Venue. Presented by Susan Hartnett, Spectator Facilities and Development Manager, Portland Office of Management and Finance.

History of Mid-century Modern Materials – Diana Painter, Oregon SHPOSession Description: The concepts behind modern building materials are as various as the styles and building types themselves. Some ideas, like structural honesty and truth to materials, grew out of concepts associated with the Arts and Crafts era and seen, for example, in the work of such New Deal programs as the Civilian Conservation Corps. Concepts in modern materials could taken to an extreme in the modern era, where the materials and structure or materials and expression were conceived as one, such as seen in Brutalism and New Formalism. Buildings in these styles can pose particular issues with respect to building repair. Other materials of the Modern era were conceived as temporary or with the ability to for substitution in the future, in part or in whole. Buildings representing these ideas about modern materials can pose special problems in application of the Secretary of Interior’s Standards in rehabilitating historic properties. In this session we will talk about materials that came to the forefront in the modern era, the ideas about modernism that they represent, and some of the special problems they may pose as we attempt to preserve our modern architectural heritage.

Plywood in the Mid-Century Modern Architecture - Suzana Radivojevic, University of OregonSession Description: This workshop session will overview the early history and technological developments of plywood and will examine the applications of this novel architectural material by the architects in the Pacific Northwest prior to the 1960s. An emphasis will be placed on the discussion of the historic significance and conceptual approaches to preservation of these typical 20th century building materials. Practical methods and technologies for preservation of historic plywood will be discussed using examples from the existing mid-century buildings.

Glue-Laminated Timber in the Western U.S.: Its Development, Failure Patterns, and Preservation Methods, Rachelle Byarly, University of OregonSession Description: Glue-laminated timber (glulam) is a structural building material manufactured by gluing layers of lumber to create one larger structural member. Glulam was introduced to the United States in the state of Wisconsin in 1934 from Germany and gained wider acceptance after World War II. Many extant glulam structures are now over 50 years-old and eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and their number will only continue to grow. As these resources age, the glulam can succumb to various forms of deterioration, however, the literature for its continued preservation is limited. This study investigates the history of glulam development and manufacturing, architectural applications, common deterioration patterns, and repair techniques. The objective of this study is to formulate a set of guidelines for glulam preservation that can be accessed by architects, preservationists, contractors, and building owners alike.

Nondestructive Evaluation of Mid‐Century Building Materials – Shan Wo, PE, Atkinson-Noland & AssociatesSession Description: As built conditions are not always known in existing buildings and may be needed for repair, retrofit, or renovation. Information on structural framing, material properties, and architectural finishes can be investigated using nondestructive evaluation tools and techniques. Technologies to examine materials such as masonry, wood, metals, and concrete will be discussed in conjunction with representative case studies.

Veteran Memorial Coliseum:The Challenges of a Mid-Century Modern Spectator and Events Venue – Susan Hartnett, Spectator Facilities and Development Manager, Portland Office of Management and FinanceSession Description: Did you know that many of the original Mid-Century Modern materials are still in service at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum? Learn what’s still there and how these systems are – and are not – performing today. Hear about the challenges in maintaining them and the choices to be made for functional modernization of the building. The session will also touch on the recent study examining potential options for the building’s future.

Case Studies: Interventions and Additions to Modern Seattle Landmarks – Susan Boyle, Principal, BOLA ArchitectsSession Description: The presentation will evaluate additions to Seattle's Modern era public branch libraries. These building, all of which are designated local landmarks and one of which is a National Register properties, were designed in the post-war decades as public library services were expanded to serve growing suburban areas. The buildings -- the 1954 Northeast Branch, designed by Paul Thiry; the 1964 Magnolia Branch, designed by Paul Hayden Kirk, and the 1965 Lake City Branch, designed by Jack Morse -- represent varied efforts by masterful northwest architects to fit the library program within specific landscaped sites and surrounding neighborhood contexts. Each building provided open reading rooms with ample daylight, distinct staff processing areas, public meeting and conference spaces, and outdoor reading areas. Original materials - steel and heavy timber framing, marblecrete panels, brick, and concrete -- were adeptly analyzed, extended and reinterpreted in recent additions, which were undertaken in the publically-funded "Libraries for All" capital campaign and completed in 2006-2008.

How important is it to retain original materials vs plan concepts?Moderated by Brian Rich, Principal, Richaven Sustainable PreservationSession Description: In the current regulatory framework, the Secretary’s Standards require a focus on material conservation when applying one of the 4 Preservation Treatments to a designated historic building. These regulations are ingrained into the laws in thousands of independent jurisdictions across the country requiring monumental efforts to change anything. Preservationists focusing on Mid-Century Modern buildings argue that then intent of preserving a modern building is, often, less about materials than about the spaces and environments that they create and that many modern materials are experimental and not intended to be preserved. How then do we reconcile the need for guiding the design of interventions on Mid-Century Modern buildings with the current regulations? How can the current system be adjusted to accommodate new changes in approaches to preservation of cultural heritage?

Saturday, May 21, 2016 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (PDT)

Organizer

DOCOMOMO_OR Chapter is part of an international committee for the documentation and conservation of buildings, sites, and neighborhoods of the modern movement. DOCOMOMO_Oregon is a chapter of DOCOMOMO_US.